June 25, 2009

Dickert chooses Friedel as city administrator

Tom Friedel, left, with Mayor John Dickert

Mayor John Dickert, barely five weeks into his term, named his choice for city administrator this afternoon: Alderman and former mayor Tom Friedel.

The mayor said he and Friedel "complement each other very well.... We know we have a big job. We have a hurting community."

Dickert said he made his decision only after determining that the city has enough money to fund the position. "We've saved a considerably amount of money," he said. He also said he kept his promise to look locally first "because we have lots of capable people here," and that he talked to people in business, city employees and the people of Racine. "I asked them, 'What are you looking for?'" and the answer was "the people of this city are looking for a new direction; they want someone they can trust."

Neither Dickert nor Friedel would disclose the salary they are negotiating. Both said it would be less than the $115,000 former administrator Ben Hughes was getting when he resigned in February. "Significantly less," said Friedel.

During his three months as "interim" mayor, after the resignation of Gary Becker and during the election process that gave the job to Dickert, Friedel had favored a professional search for a city administrator to replace Hughes, who resigned in the midst of two complaints -- since dismissed -- filed by two female employees he was disciplining.

"I wanted to start the search," he said, "but no work in that direction took place," because "we wouldn't have had a good pool (of applicants) given some of the candidates' positions" (opposed to hiring a new administrator.)

Dickert said his appointment of Friedel -- if his fellow City Council members go along with it at their next meeting, on July 7 -- would save the city the $20,000 a search firm would have cost. In addition, he said, the search would have taken four months, and then the new person would need three months' training. "Seven months was a long time for this process," Dickert said. "As you can see from the desk" he said, looking from the podium to his desk and table, both of which were covered with work papers, "we are working on a lot -- and have 17 1/2% unemployment in the city."

Friedel has worked at Twin Disc since 1972, spending 25 years in manufacturing as a machinist and supervisor and 12 years in management; he is currently a manager in aftermarket operations. He served three terms on the Racine Unified School Board, from 1986 to 1995 and served as its president. He is in his fifth term on the City Council representing District 10. Friedel said he will resign from Twin Disc if the council approves his appointment as city administrator.

If there's a gap in his resume it is this: He is a graduate of St. Catherine's High School but has no college degree. "If this is a litmus test," said Dickert, "then a lot of good people would be left out." Friedel said he "regrets" not going to college; "It took me nine years on the school board to learn about negotiation." But he also said that city administrator is a relatively new position and not everyone who holds the job has -- or needs -- a college degree to be successful.

"I think I'm the right person at the right time," he said.

Dickert said, "Education is one way; experience is just as invaluable. I did not want someone brand new, or in the last two years before retirement."

Other issues touched upon during the mayor's press conference in his office included:
  • Hiring a new health department administrator to replace Janelle Grammer, who was fired by the council this week: "We've already started broaching that subject."
  • The status of the Laurel Clark Fountain, beloved by the city's kids, but threatened with closure or a fence under state regulations: "My kids love the fountain," Dickert said. "We'll talk about it."
  • The Legislature's Regional Transit debate:Dickert urged the Senate and Assembly to "go back to the governor's proposal." He said he is opposed to a wheel tax, and "I will not impose a disproportionate tax on our people for something that should be regional." The mayor said it is important that "our infrastructure is rebuilt" and he favored the plan that took city buses off the property tax rolls. "If the Legislature says no to the RTA, they would be making a catastrophic decision for the infrastructure of Racine. They did that 16 years ago."

47 comments:

  1. Excellent choice by Dickert. Friedel did a great job on the school board and will do a good job in this new role.

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  2. Michael Jackson is dead!!!

    Isnt Tom Friedel John Dickerts uncle?

    I like that this was done with out a huge search and paying companies to find a new administrator but I still think the people on the city council have not run this city properly in decades. It's a group of people who have no idea what they are doing.

    I no longer support any of the people who sat back and did nothing while Gary was in office. Someone should have stood up and said enough is enough, yet no one did.

    Jim Smith was a corrupt evil mayor and Gary Becker was a corrupt sick mayor. The only thing those two did was make Racine worse.

    Let's hope Dickert doesnt fail Racine too.

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  3. So does this mean you don't need a college degree to run for aldermen to really start kicking butt in this town and not being a yes person to government?

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  4. I didn't realize Tom didn't have a college degree. Just because a person has a degree - doesn't mean they know what they are doing. Just look at your boss tomorrow.

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  5. Just get yourself one of those mail order degrees - the only thing that matters is whether you look good and are also able to smile vacuously and shake hands.

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  6. IS Friedel Dickert's uncle??

    Does someone know?

    If so, this is scandalous!!!

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  7. Didn't Dickert also make his best friend his assistant, creating a high paying city job at tax payer's expenses??

    Is this guy in office to help his family and friends get jobs or to help Racine?

    What next, gonna create a city job for your wife also??

    You're not cute anymore Mr. DICKert.

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  8. Mt Pleasant's administrator is a political not professional appointment. That isn't serving Mt Pleasant very well. These deals never look right especially when in most communities experienced administrators are hired. Before some of you start slapping at Ben Hughes around remember he has been proven to have been right in the actions he originally got beat up for in the press and the blogs.

    I hope the new mayor knows what he is doing. Racine can't afford too many more mis-steps.

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  9. Yes I heard Dickert and Friedel were cousins. FRIEDEL ONLY HAS A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOLMA! I'm sorry, but a college education is important.

    Though it didn't help our last city administrator I suppose. I know many highly educated fools out there.

    I still do not feel this was a good decision on the part of Mayor Dickert. Perhaps he did this so Friedel wouldn't run against him next election time?

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  10. By the way, anon 8:51, Hughes has not been proven "right" on anything. Janelle's case has no bearing on the fact the man has serious issues in dealing with people. It was good that he resigned because if not, he probably would have been ousted by now.

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  11. I would rather have someone with common sense anyday instead of some big degree, piece of paper doesn't make you any more qualified than someone that has life experience. Just means 1 person sat in college the other didnt'

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  12. This selection has me wondering a few things.

    Is Dickert a weak mayor and is naming Friedl a move to please the council?

    Was there a deal made with Friedl during the election?

    Just a couple of questions that I think need to be looked into.

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  13. Great choice a real person as city administrator. Friedel has spent his whole life in Racine trying to make the community better. He has been a soldier,President of the School board,an alderman,President of the counsel,as well as interim mayor. Find me someone else who has given that much time back to this community.

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  14. Thanks Tom for the post. I have read your bio already.

    Oh and the answer to the previous question...Bob Turner is just one that comes to mind

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  15. Wasn't Dickert - Becker's campaign manager? This deal sounds like one of Becker's.

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  16. This may not be a bad choice, but there still should have been a job search. It is very possible that there was an even better candidate out there.

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  17. Did someone honestly mention Bob Turner as a candidate for city administrator??

    That would mean creating new jobs in city hall for his groupies- Craig Oliver, Keith Fair, and Michael Shields. And we all know that if Craig Oliver is in city hall, he'll need a large supply of bricks to throw at anyone who pisses him off.

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  18. Downtown Denizen6/26/2009 9:03 AM

    Before we start talking about how good someone is for "giving back to the community," let's remember that these are PAID positions. This is his CAREER. (No offense inteneded Tom, that is not meant as a personal attack.)

    That aside, as a college graduate, I must side with those who emphisize that a college diploma does not make the person. I know bushels of college graduates I wouldn't trust to handle any political office. Most of them seem to have trouble dressing themselves in the morning, much less making decisions that could affect the entire community. No, I don't think a college degree should be required to hold a political office. However, I do believe that a H.S. diploma should be manditory; along with proof that the person can read and write, speak English, and is an American citizen. I would value someone with real world "street smarts" more than someone with a degree in Interior Design or Animal Husbandry running for political office. Even though those are sound, and necessary, vocations, I don't believe a degree outside of the realm of politics, law, business, accounting or civics is of much use to political leaders. (To all of you extremists, I know there's many more vocations that could be mentioned favorably, but I'm trying to keep this short.)

    The real point here is whether or not we need a city administrator. How much is he going to be paid? Will it be the outlandish $118,000 Hughes got? Something's wrong when the mayor makes $69K and the administrator makes more than half that much again. Then there's the nepotism aspect; relatives of any political office holder should NEVER be hired to fill government positions. There is a distinct conflict of interest there. If Tom is indeed related to John, let's see some proof, and then see if John will make the right decision.

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  19. A campaign promise is a campaign promise.

    Smith - Becker - Dickert

    A Racine tradition

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  20. Dickert was not Becker's campaign manager.

    However, Friedel and Becker were very close. People say they still communicate regularly. That's the part that bothers me. We need to move past the Becker era, but with Friedel in there not only aren't we doing that but Becker will now have the inside scoop on everything going on through Friedel. Blech.

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  21. Is Racinepost going to investigate the claims being made here that the two are related?

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  22. They are cousins it's not a secret.Just bad journalism.

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  23. Downtown Denizen do you know how much Alderman make?

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  24. Who would you hire as the new city administrator?

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  25. From what I've heard having grown up with the Dickert family, Friedel & Dickert's grandfathers were stepbrothers, or something like that - at any rate, a pretty weak link. I would put money on half the people in Racine being somehow related to each other.

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  26. For several years I lived in the ward over which Mr. Friedel presided and I turned to him more than once for assistance or to simply answer questions. Never once did he let me down.
    I cannot think of a more qualified candidate for this position, with or without a college degree. I personally have three degrees, but don't see how those would benefit me at all in running this city more than simple experience and the desire to improve Racine, which Mr. Friedel has.
    Congratulations to Mr. Friedel on your appointment, Mr. Dickert on choosing an individual who is absolutely an amzing fit for the job and the citizens of Racine for having yet another person working dilligently for you to make tomorrow a better day.

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  27. anon 10:00-

    Aldermen make a whopping $6,900 per year.

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  28. Tthat's a lot for just saying "Yes, sir."

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  29. Is Friedel going to have to resign is position as Alderman? Is it considered a conflict of interest to be both a voting council member and the City Administrator?

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  30. Are you thats stupid George. Of course he will resign as alderman.

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  31. Well at least he didn't hire a search firm to locate the administrator. I think Friedel did fine as interim mayor. Lets give him a chance. Related or not, college degree or not doesn't really matter after he has proven himself fairly competent. Maybe now Dickert will never have to have that dreaded meetng face to face with the city employees.

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  32. Dickert lost my 2011 election vote with this move.

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  33. Do knee pads and napkins come with this position John??

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  34. I guess Monte has a better job than City Administrator.

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  35. Monte is telling people he is the Deputy Mayor. If you want something done you need to go to him.

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  36. How many Dickert's will have City of Racine jobs soon?

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  37. The question is "How many of Dickert's relatives already work for the City" and helped him get elected? Does the co-owner of the real estate company he worked for still chair the City Redevelopment Committee? Conflict maybe? Not sure, just a question.

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  38. You guys suck...

    Tom Freidel did an excellent job as interim mayor when this city needed leadership the most.

    Dickert made an excellent choice.

    Let this "Becker" thing die already!

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  39. Was Freidels job in jeapordy at Twin Disc? Aren't they laying people off there? Is there more to this story????

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  40. The Racine "media" will make this a story for a day and over the weekend we forgot.

    Politics as usual.

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  41. Just a question:

    What are the education requirements in the job description for city administrator's position?

    If the job description requires an under graduate degree or master's degree, how was Dickert able to assign Friedel to this position?

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  42. Anon 3:49: In the section of the city's job description entitled Knowledge, skills and abilities required it says:

    "Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration or other related field (Masters degree preferred) supplemented by seven (7) years experience in municipal government administration as a department or division hed, or an equivalent combination of experience, knowledge and ability." Emphasis added by me.

    In other words, to answer your question directly, there are no absolute educational requirements.

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  43. Pete - thanks, pretty amazing. I'm not saying that Fridel is not up to the task, but in this economic environment there are many people to choose from. Whenever I hire anyone - I want to get the best person available. Without doing a search, how do you know you have the best person.

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  44. Downtown Denizen6/30/2009 8:16 AM

    Anon 10:00AM, what difference does it make how much Aldermen make? That isn't the issue. So what if they make $6,900 a year, they are part-time positions and they hold jobs or own their own businesses outside their office as alderman. The question is to how much the unnecessary position of city administrator is going to cost the taxpayer of this city. Hughes got $118K per year, plus over $30K in benefits, plus an expense account! It totalled close to $180,000.00 per year!!! And worst of all, the city administrator is not responsible to the people of Racine, only directly to the mayor. That's hardly representative govenment.

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  45. Someone said Friedel did "an excellent job as interim mayor"? Just what did he do exactly in the three months he was there besides sign paperwork and run meetings?

    Who couldn't do that and not screw it up? It wasn't that difficult a task and hard to completely botch anything up in the short amount of time he was there.

    I would also strongly disagree that serving as alderman is an equal equivalent to education. Being an alderman is also not the equivalent to the position duties of a city administrator, there is NO comparison whatsoever. Friedel is just not qualified. He seems like a nice guy, but he should not have been given this job.

    I would agree with many that I don't feel the city admin job was necessary. It was also idiotic of the aldermen to agree to paying for an interim city admin after Hughes suddenly resigned. What was this interim city admin doing that the city could not live without?

    Mayor Dickert should have waiting for at least 6 months to decide whether or not he even felt he needed the position. He jumped too quickly and it wasn't necessary.

    But the one thing that bothers me deeply is how close Friedel and Gary Becker are, I would not be surprised if Friedel continues to discuss city business with Becker and take advice from him.

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  46. And what's this about Friedel and Dickert being related? Is Racinepost.com going to turn a blind eye to that little detail because they obviously like Friedel so much? Talk about biased reporting.

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  47. I challenge you to find 12 people in the city of Racine who AREN’T related to Mayor Dickert.

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